Dover boys lacrosse nudges Portsmouth

Tuesday

Apr 27, 2010 at 3:15 AM

By MICHAEL RILEYPortsmouth Herald

PORTSMOUTH — With six seconds left in regulation, Dover High School boys lacrosse player Liam Murphy won the faceoff, took the ball coast to coast and netted what seemed like the game-winning goal in Monday's Division II game against Portsmouth.

As it turned out, the goal gave the Green Wave a 12-10 victory after it was discovered that the scoreboard at Portsmouth High had credited the Clippers with one goal too many. Still, the drama wasn't lacking.

"After they tied it up, I turned to our other faceoff man Jesse Reeves and told him that I wanted this one," said Murphy. "I thought I could have it. I came close in the two faceoffs before and I just went out for those last 14 seconds and put it on the line."

Murphy, naturally right-handed, shocked himself by scoring with a left-handed shot, something he's been working on all offseason to get stronger with.

"I knew the (Portsmouth defender) was right on me," said Murphy. "He's a quick kid, he was on me all game. I didn't think I would be able to shoot with my strong hand, so I put it in my left and hoped something good would come from it."

The win improved Dover's Division II record to 4-0 on the season. Portsmouth fell to 2-2.

The game was delayed at the end of the third quarter because of some disagreement with the scoring. The referees, book keepers and scoreboard all had different scores, creating confusion on the field and in the stands.

"Honestly, I don't pay attention (to the score)," said Portsmouth coach Peter Latchaw. "I do to the board and things like that, but I have no idea. The official came over and said the book was wrong, and so it was tied 7-7. Then the book wasn't wrong, and then it was, and then it wasn't, so I have no idea. But it was a great lacrosse game."

With 14 seconds remaining in regulation, Portsmouth senior midfielder Anthony Kurylak netted was seemed like the game-tying goal. In actuality, the goal cut Dover's lead to 11-10. Murphy's goal eight seconds later squashed any controversy that may have risen from the confusion.

"There were a couple quirks," said Dover coach Sean Houlahan. "I guess there was a discrepancy between the books. They tried to figure it out and they figured it out. I'll definitely be watching the film tonight for fun."

Junior attacker Eric Groleau of Dover recorded his 100th career point, scoring two goals and dishing out four assists.

"Groleau just played phenomenal," said Dover junior attacker Dylan Stohrer. "He didn't put up four goals, but he was our player of the game."

Stohrer did have four goals for Dover, all coming in the first quarter.

"I wanted to come out and make an early impact," said Stohrer. "Later in the game they started sliding earlier, which made it hard for me to score and it just left a lot of people open, which is how we got a lot of our goals."

"We have to figure out a way to come out and be ready to play at the start of the game and not wait till the second half to start firing up," said Latchaw. "If we come out guns blazing in the first quarter, it's going to be a whole different setting."

Portsmouth was shut out in the first quarter 6-0 but battled back to make it a close finish.

"I'm proud that they showed their composure and came back," said Latchaw. "If we can get ourselves in a better position earlier in the game we won't have to battle quite as hard."